Adhesive closure strip

ABSTRACT

A pair of closure strips for resealing bags, the pair of closure strips comprising a first closure strip comprising a substrate including a grip strip, a groove strip, and an adhesive region, the groove strip. The pair of closure strips further comprising a second closure strip comprising a substrate including a grip strip, a stem strip, and an adhesive region. The stem strip comprises a stem structure that interlocks with a groove of the groove strip. The first closure strip and the second closure strip are attached to a bag by adhering the adhesive region of the first closure strip and the adhesive region of the second closure strip to sidewall regions adjacent to an opening of the bag.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material,which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This application generally relates to closure strips, and in particular,closure strips attached to sidewalls of an opened bag to convert the bagfrom non-reclosable to reclosable.

Description of the Related Art

Bags that can be reclosed after being opened frequently include ziplockclosures having complementary profile strips. Such closures can beconnected to one another by pressing together the strips and separatedby pulling apart the strips. Alternatively, a slider is attached ontothe closure and encompasses the profile strips. Slider closures may beopened or closed, by displacing the slider along the strips. However,typical bags produced for food items, such as snacks and cereal areoften not resealable or produced with such closures. As a result, thefood items easily go stale and gets wasted etc. Existing solutions suchas using clips are only partially effective because clips break or getlost and do not effectively seal an opening of a bag but rather, holdthe opening closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pair of closure strips for resealingbags. The pair of closure strips comprises a first closure stripcomprising a substrate including a grip strip, a groove strip, and anadhesive region, the groove strip. The pair of closure strips furthercomprises a second closure strip comprising a substrate including a gripstrip, a stem strip, and an adhesive region. The stem strip comprises astem structure that interlocks with a groove of the groove strip. Thefirst closure strip and the second closure strip being discrete elementsfrom a bag and are attached to the bag by adhering the adhesive regionof the first closure strip and the adhesive region of the second closurestrip to sidewall regions adjacent to an opening of the bag.

The groove strip is on an inner-facing side of the first closure stripand the stem strip is on an inner-facing side of the second closurestrip. Each of the first closure strip and the second closure strip mayfurther comprise a grip strip. The grip strip may provide improved easeof holding a top section of the closure strip. The grip strip maycomprise a plurality of elongated generally parallel ridges spaced apartin parallel relationship and horizontally extending from substantially afirst edge of the closure strip to a second edge of the closure strip.

The substrates of the first closure strip and the second closure stripmay comprise a sheet material including paper or plastic film. The firstclosure strip and the first closure strip may be pre-attached and woundinto a spool. The first closure strip and the first closure strip may beperforated at set lengths. The first closure strip and the first closurestrip may be precut in various lengths.

The adhesive region of the first closure strip and the adhesive regionof the second closure strip may be adhered to sidewall regions below theopening of the bag. The first closure strip and the second closure stripmay be attached to the bag such that the opening of the bag is below thegroove strip and the stem strip. The grove strip may be located in amidsection region of first closure strip above the adhesive region ofthe first closure strip. The stem strip may be located in a midsectionregion of second closure strip above the adhesive region of the secondclosure strip.

The groove strip may be on an inner-facing side of the first closurestrip and the stem strip may be on an inner-facing side of the secondclosure strip. In one embodiment, the adhesive region of the firstclosure strip may be on an inner-facing side of the first closure stripand the adhesive region of the second closure strip may be on aninner-facing side of the second closure strip. In another embodiment,the adhesive region of the first closure strip may be on an outer-facingside of the first closure strip and the adhesive region of the secondclosure strip may be on an outer-facing side of the second closurestrip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawingswhich are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which likereferences are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a pair of complementary adhesive closure stripsaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an application of a pair of complementaryadhesive closure strips to a bag according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an application of a pair ofcomplementary adhesive closure strips to an exterior of a bag accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an application of a pair ofcomplementary adhesive closure strips to a bag according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a bag adhered with a pair of complementary adhesiveclosure strips according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a roll of adhesive closure strips with a dispensingcontainer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, andwhich show, by way of illustration, exemplary embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. Subject matter may, however, be embodied ina variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subjectmatter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exampleembodiments set forth herein; example embodiments are provided merely tobe illustrative. It is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized and structural changes may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope forclaimed or covered subject matter is intended. Throughout thespecification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested orimplied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, thephrase “in one embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer tothe same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” as usedherein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It isintended, for example, that claimed subject matter include combinationsof exemplary embodiments in whole or in part. The following detaileddescription is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.

The present application discloses closure strips for resealing bags notoriginally equipped with closure means. The disclosed closure strips maycomprise a pair of complementary adhesive closure strips that may beused as an aid or accessory for bags. In particular, the adhesiveclosure strips are separate elements and do not form an enclosure or bagthemselves whether in combination or alone. The complementary adhesiveclosure strips may include a slot and groove (e.g., ziplock) mechanismsuch that the complementary adhesive closure strips forms a seal whenpressed together. Each of the complementary adhesive closure strips maybe adhered to a region of a given inner or outer sidewall adjacent to anopening of a bag thereby creating a closure by coupling the slot andgroove mechanism to the bag.

FIGS. 1 and 2 present a pair of complementary adhesive closure stripsaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Closure strip 102comprises a substrate including a grip strip 104, a groove strip 106,and an adhesive region 108. The substrate as well as any other portionof the closure strip 102 can be constructed from any material, such aspaper or plastic film (e.g., polyethylene polymers). Grip strip 104 mayprovide for improved ease of opening and holding of the closure strip102 along a top section of the closure strip 102 when attached to anexisting container, such as a bag. The grip strip 104 comprises aplurality of elongated generally parallel ridges spaced apart inparallel relationship and horizontally extending from substantially oneedge of the closure strip 102 to the other edge of the closure strip102.

Closure strip 102 has an inner-facing side and an outer-facing side.Groove strip 106 is located in a midsection region of closure strip 102below the grip strip 104 and above the adhesive region 108. Groove strip106 is situated on the inner-facing side and comprises a complementarygroove or cavity adapted to be pressed together into interlockingrelation with a stem component (stem strip 206) on the inner-facing sideof closure strip 202. As such, closure strip 102 may form a seal withclosure strip 202. Closure strip 102 may be separated from closure strip202 by pulling them apart.

Adhesive region 108 enables the closure strip 102 to be attached to acontainer surface. The adhesive region 108 comprises a section locatedat a bottom portion of the closure strip 102 that can be adhered to aninner or outer sidewall of an existing container along an opening of theexisting container. The adhesive region 108 may exist on theinner-facing side of the closure strip 102 for application to an outersidewall of an existing container. Alternatively, the adhesive region108 may exist on the outer-facing side of the closure strip 102 forapplication to an inner sidewall of an existing container. To protectthe adhesive region 108 and permit handling without the adhesive region108 catching on any environmental surface until it is intended to applythe closure strip 102 to a container, the adhesive region 108 mayinclude a protective sheet that is applied in covering relation to theadhesive region 108 but is able to be peeled therefrom and removed priorto adhering to the container.

Closure strip 202 comprises a companion strip to closure strip 102.Closure strip 202 comprises a substrate including a grip strip 204, astem strip 206, and an adhesive region 208. The substrate as well as anyother portion of the closure strip 202 can be constructed from anymaterial, such as paper or plastic film (e.g., polyethylene polymers).Grip strip 204 and adhesive region 208 may include structure andfunctionality that are identical to grip strip 104 and adhesive region218, respectively. That is, closure strip 202 mirrors the structures ofclosure strip 102 with the exception of the stem strip 206.

Closure strip 202 also includes an inner-facing side and an outer-facingside. Stem strip 206 is situated on the inner-facing side and comprisesa stem structure adapted to be pressed together into interlockingrelation with a groove component (groove strip 106) on the inner-facingside of closure strip 102. Stem strip 206 is located in a midsectionregion of closure strip 202 below the grip strip 204 and adhesive region108. Particularly, stem strip 206 is located in a substantially similarlocation as groove strip 106 in relation to the midsection region ofclosure strip 102 such that stem strip 206 is horizontally aligned withthe center of the groove of the groove strip 106. According to anotherembodiment closure strip 102 and closure strip 202 may include any kindof locking mechanism in place of groove strip 106 and stem strip 206.

Closure strip 102 and closure strip 202 may be pre-attached to oneanother, wound into a spool, and thereafter be dispensed. The closurestrips may be cut to a desired length and applied to individual bags.For example, the desired length may be the width of a bag or an openingof the bag. The closure strips may also be perforated at set lengths, orcan come in precut strips of various lengths.

FIGS. 3A and 3B present an application of a pair of complementaryadhesive closure strips to a bag according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Closure strip 102 and closure strip 202 comprise individual elements anddo not form an enclosure or bag themselves whether attached or detachedfrom one another. The closure strip 102 and closure strip 202 may beattached to a bag 300. A bag 300 may comprise any non-rigid containermade from any material such as paper, plastic, organic or syntheticfibers, etc. The bag 300 includes an opening 302 to the internal cavity304 of the bag 300.

Closure strip 102 can be adhered to an upper region of a first sidewallalong opening 302 and closure strip 202 can be adhered to an upperregion of a second sidewall (opposite of the first sidewall) adjacent toand along the opening of the bag. The closure strips 102 and 202 may beattached along the sidewalls adjacent to the opening 302 such that atleast a portion of the adhesive regions 108 and 208 are below theopening 302 and groove strip 106 and stem strip 206 are above theopening 302. Groove strip 106 and stem strip 206 provides an easilyopenable and reclosable/resealable closure for the opening 302. Closurestrips 102 and 202 may be pulled apart at grip strips 104 and 204 todetach groove strip 106 from stem strip 206.

FIG. 4 presents a side view of an application of a pair of complementaryadhesive closure strips to an exterior of a bag according to anembodiment of the present invention. The closure strips 102 and 202 canbe adhered to the opening 302 of bag 300. Bag 300 includes exteriorsidewall surfaces 402 and 404. Closure strip 102 may be adhered toexterior sidewall surface 402 via adhesive region 108 and closure strip202 may be adhered to exterior sidewall surface 404 via adhesive region208. The groove strip 106 and stem strip 206 are preferably positionedabove opening 302 thereby allowing groove strip 106 and stem strip 206to be pressed together and separated. Once the closure strips 102 and202 are attached to the opening 302, groove strip 106 and stem strip 206provides re-sealability of opening 302 to cavity 304.

FIG. 5 presents a side view of an application of a pair of complementaryadhesive closure strips to a bag according to another embodiment of thepresent invention. Bag 300 includes interior sidewall surfaces 406 and408. Closure strips 102′ and 202′ are partially inserted into cavity 304through opening 302 for attaching the closure strips 102′ and 202′ tothe opening 302 of the bag 300. Closure strip 102′ may be adhered tointerior sidewall surface 406 via adhesive region 108′ and closure strip202′ may be adhered to interior sidewall surface 408 via adhesive region208′. Once the closure strips 102′ and 202′ are attached to the opening302, groove strip 106′ and stem strip 206′ may be pressed together andseparated to close and open opening 302 to access cavity 304.

FIG. 6 presents a bag adhered with a pair of complementary adhesiveclosure strips according to an embodiment of the present invention.Closure strips 102, 202 are attached to the opening 302 of bag 300. Theclosure strips 102, 202 are attached by adhering adhesive regions 108,208 to a region of sidewalls 402, 404 below the opening 302. The closurestrips 102, 202 are affixed to bag 300 such that opening 302 is belowgroove strip 106 and stem strip 206. Grip strips 104, 204 provide areasfor grabbing closure strips 102, 202 and detaching strip 106 from stemstrip 206 by pulling grip strips 104, 204 in opposite directions.

FIG. 7 presents a roll of adhesive closure strips with a dispensingcontainer according to an embodiment of the present invention. A roll ofclosure strip 102, 202 may be pre-attached to one another, wound into aspool 702, and dispensed from a container 700. The container 700includes a blade 704 that can be used to cut closure strip 102, 202.Closure strip 102, 202 may be cut to any arbitrary length or atpre-perforated lines.

FIGS. 1 through 7 are conceptual illustrations allowing for anexplanation of the present invention. Notably, the figures and examplesabove are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention to asingle embodiment, as other embodiments are possible by way ofinterchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements.Moreover, where certain elements of the present invention can bepartially or fully implemented using known components, only thoseportions of such known components that are necessary for anunderstanding of the present invention are described, and detaileddescriptions of other portions of such known components are omitted soas not to obscure the invention. In the present specification, anembodiment showing a singular component should not necessarily belimited to other embodiments including a plurality of the samecomponent, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein.Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification orclaims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitlyset forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses presentand future known equivalents to the known components referred to hereinby way of illustration.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fullyreveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applyingknowledge within the skill of the relevant art(s) (including thecontents of the documents cited and incorporated by reference herein),readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specificembodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from thegeneral concept of the present invention. Such adaptations andmodifications are therefore intended to be within the meaning and rangeof equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching andguidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseologyor terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not oflimitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the presentspecification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light ofthe teachings and guidance presented herein, in combination with theknowledge of one skilled in the relevant art(s).

What is claimed is:
 1. A pair of closure strips for resealing bags, thepair of closure strips comprising: a first closure strip comprising asubstrate including a grip strip, a groove strip, and an adhesiveregion, the adhesive region of the first closure strip defining a firstadhesive surface the a second closure strip comprising a substrateincluding a grip strip, a stem strip, and an adhesive region, the firstclosure strip and the second closure strip being separate and discreteelements from each other and configured for removable attachment to eachother, the adhesive region of the second closure strip defining a secondadhesive surface, the second adhesive surface being oriented in anopposing direction to the first adhesive surface when the first andsecond closure strips are attached together such that a normal of thefirst adhesive surface extends through the second adhesive surface and anormal of the second adhesive surface extends through the first adhesivesurface; wherein the stem strip comprises a stem structure thatinterlocks with a groove of the groove strip to at least partiallyattach the first and second closure strips together; and the firstclosure strip and the second closure strip being discrete elements froma bag, the bag comprising first and second sidewall regions forming anopening therebetween, the first closure strip being configured forattachment to the bag by adhering the adhesive region of the firstclosure strip to the first sidewall region adjacent the opening suchthat the grip and groove strips of the first closure strip are disposedoutside of the opening of the bag and the second closure strip beingconfigured for attachment to the bag by adhering the adhesive region ofthe second closure strip to the second sidewall region adjacent to theopening such that the grip and stem strips of the second closure stripare disposed outside of the opening of the bag.
 2. The pair of closurestrips of claim 1 wherein the groove strip is on an inner-facing side ofthe first closure strip and the stem strip is on an inner-facing side ofthe second closure strip.
 3. The pair of closure strips of claim 1wherein each of the first closure strip and the second closure stripfurther comprises a grip strip.
 4. The pair of closure strips of claim 3wherein the grip strip provides improved ease of holding a top sectionof the closure strip.
 5. The pair of closure strips of claim 3 whereinthe grip strip comprises a plurality of elongated generally parallelridges spaced apart in parallel relationship and horizontally extendingfrom substantially a first edge of the closure strip to a second edge ofthe closure strip.
 6. The pair of closure strips of claim 1 wherein thesubstrates of the first closure strip and the second closure stripcomprise a sheet material including paper or plastic film.
 7. The pairof closure strips of claim 1 wherein the first closure strip and thesecond closure strip are pre-attached and wound into a spool.
 8. Thepair of closure strips of claim 1 wherein the first closure strip andthe second closure strip are perforated at set lengths.
 9. The pair ofclosure strips of claim 1 wherein the first closure strip and the secondclosure strip are precut in various lengths.
 10. The pair of closurestrips of claim 1 wherein the adhesive region of the first closure stripand the adhesive region of the second closure strip are adhered tosidewall regions below the opening of the bag.
 11. The pair of closurestrips of claim 1 wherein the first closure strip and the second closurestrip are attached to the bag such that the opening of the bag is belowthe groove strip and the stem strip.
 12. The pair of closure strips ofclaim 1 wherein the groove strip is located in a midsection region offirst closure strip above the adhesive region of the first closurestrip.
 13. The pair of closure strips of claim 1 wherein the stem stripis located in a midsection region of second closure strip above theadhesive region of the second closure strip.
 14. The pair of closurestrips of claim 1 wherein the groove strip is on an inner-facing side ofthe first closure strip and the stem strip is on an inner-facing side ofthe second closure strip.
 15. The pair of closure strips of claim 1wherein the adhesive region of the first closure strip is on aninner-facing side of the first closure strip and the adhesive region ofthe second closure strip is on an inner-facing side of the secondclosure strip.
 16. The pair of closure strips of claim 1 wherein theadhesive region of the first closure strip is on an outer-facing side ofthe first closure strip and the adhesive region of the second closurestrip is on an outer-facing side of the second closure strip.
 17. Thepair of closure strips of claim 16 wherein: the adhesive region thefirst closure strip is configured for attachment to the bag by adheringthe adhesive region of the first closure strip to an interior portion ofthe first sidewall region adjacent to the opening of the bag; and theadhesive region the second closure strip is configured for attachment tothe bag by adhering the adhesive region of the second closure strip toan interior portion of the second sidewall region adjacent to theopening of the bag.
 18. The pair of closure strips of claim 17 whereinthe adhesive region of the first closure strip faces away from theadhesive region of the second closure strip when the first and secondclosure strips are attached to the bag.
 19. The pair of closure stripsof claim 1 wherein: the adhesive region of the first closure strip facesin an opposing direction to the groove strip; and the adhesive region ofthe second closure strip faces in an opposing direction to the stemstrip.
 20. The pair of closure strips of claim 1 wherein, when detachedfrom each other, each of the first closure strip and the second closurestrip are configured for separate and individual attachment to the bag.